There are several contenders for the title of first business jet. Several companies claim to have made the first aircraft solely for corporate use. But which is truly the first? Here’s who!
The first business jet contenders began to be produced during the 1960’s. Whilst many people were enjoying the relative comfortableness of the “Golden Age of Aviation“, businessmen were looking for something different…
The resulting aircraft and their descendants have since gone on to become part of pop culture!
McDonnell 119
The 119 is one of the most unique McDonnell aircraft ever built. Not only was it one of the first business jets to ever be marketed, ever. But it was the first McDonnell aircraft to be marketed to civil buyers, prior to the McDonnell Douglas merger.
Despite this, the McDonnell was also extremely unsuccessful. McDonnell didn’t really know how to build an aircraft that wasn’t designed to be flown primarily by the military. As such, they made silly and costly mistakes.
Just as with the JetStar and Sabreliner (more on them in a minute), the 119 owed its origins to the US Air Force. However, the contract for the aircraft never materialized, instead going to the Lockheed JetStar.
At that point, however, the 119 had already made its first flight in February 1959. And McDonnell had already put almost $10 million in the 119.
In an attempt to save face, and turn a bad result into a profitable one, McDonnell reached out to Pan Am. They originally offered the jet as VIP transport, or a small regional jet.
This was very appealing to Pan Am, who signed a letter of intent to acquire 170 of the aircraft. However, negotiations between Pan Am and McDonnell broke down as McDonnell couldn’t offer the 119 at an attractive price.
British Aerospace 125
In 1961, de Havilland (then a subsidiary of Hawker Siddeley, later folded into British Aerospace) began work on a replacement aircraft for their de Havilland Dove, light transport aircraft.
Work finished in August 1962, resulting in one of two prototypes. After the establishment of Hawker Siddeley, and later British Aerospace, a lot of money was invested in the aircraft.
The 125 continued to be produced continuously from 1963 until 2013, making it one of the most longstanding production aircraft!
North American Sabreliner
The Sabreliner was originally designed by North American, but soon fell under the jurisdiction of Rockwell after their merger. Originally, it was offered to the US Air Force to fill a trainer and VIP transport role.
The US Air Force took control of the aircraft in 1962, after having studied the aircraft since its first flight in 1958! Even today, all branches of the US military, besides the Army, operate the Sabreliner!
After, North American and later Rockwell, saw the popularity of the Sabreliner with many air forces for VIP configuration. As such, they decided to release a VIP configuration of the Sabreliner on the open market.
Production of he solely-VIP Sabreliner started in April 1967 and ended in 1982, when all Sabreliner production was stopped.
Lockheed JetStar
In the 1960’s, the USAF had a contract for a utility and VIP aircraft. However, due to budget cuts, the contract was scrapped. This led many manufacturers, including Lockheed, with a useless aircraft.
The VIP aircraft was too small to enter service with airlines, but was too big to be re-purposed as a general aviation aircraft. Worst of all, Lockheed had already produced a prototype as well!
Originally, Lockheed decided to use the prototype as a corporate jet for their vice-president. But soon, others began to take notice and wanted their own JetStar.
As such, Lockheed put the JetStar into production. People from Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra to the US Air Force had a JetStar. Even the last Shah of Iran had one (later sold to a Puerto Rican band!)
Lockheed manufactured the jet between 1961 and 1980, after the JetStar had originally been flown in September 1957!
IAI Westwind
During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Aero Commander, a major player in the turboprop market, was looking to get into the jet aircraft business.
Instead of designing a completely new aircraft from scratch, they took their turboprop design, enlarged it and continued to design on top of it.
Soon, Aero Commander was acquired by Rockwell, who were forced to sell of the Westwind as it would violate anti-trust laws. (Rockwell had also acquired the Sabreliner too!)
IAI, Israel’s premier aircraft manufacturer was eager to get into the business aviation market, so bought the plans for the aircraft from Rockwell, in 1968.
The aircraft first flew in 1963 and was first delivered in 1965. The Westwind was produced between 1965 and 1987!
LearJet 23
Bill Lear saw the potential of the FFA P-16. Despite the fact that the FFA P-16 was meant to be a fighter jet, Bill Lear saw that the design could be altered to have a different design.
He realized that if he extended the fuselage and modified the engine configuration, he could make a jet. Instead of making a commercial jet to rival the Boeing empire. He chose a different use for his aircraft.
He found that several businesses were looking for an aircraft that they could use. An aircraft smaller than a 737 but in a similar configuration, only slightly bigger than a general aviation stunt aircraft.
However, at the time, Bill Lear was living in Switzerland. At that time, Switzerland didn’t have a big enough base of people to support Lear’s venture.
So, Bill Lear moved to Wichita, Kansas. There, he set up a plant and produced his LearJet 23, starting in October 1964 and ending sometime in 1966.
The LearJet 23 served as the basis for the rest of the LearJet family, including those flown today!
Dassault Falcon 20
The Dassault Falcon 20 was originally commissioned as a jet trainer and VIP transport aircraft for the French Air Force. The French Air Force had also reached out to several other manufacturers for designs.
Many aircraft manufacturers submitted their designs, including Dassault. In fact, Dassault even got to the point where they built and tested prototypes. Alas, the French Air Force did not choose Dassault’s aircraft.
Instead of letting it go to waste, Dassault decided that he’d find another way for the Falcon 20 to be used. He realized that no French airline would take his aircraft, it was simply too small.
So he instead decided to research British and American airlines. He soon heard that Pan Am are interested in small VIP aircraft, after their talks with McDonnell over their McDonnell 119 had fallen through.
So he contacted Pan Am and offered his Falcon 20 at the attractive price McDonnell couldn’t. Soon Pan Am had 160 Falcon 20’s after the initial test flight in May 1963, when it was delivered in June 1965.
Soon after many militaries, including the French Air Force placed orders for the aircraft!
Grumman Gulfstream II
The Grumman Gulfstream II is sometimes known as the grandfather of the business jet. If the Gulfstream II looks familiar, it’s probably because you’re familiar with it or one of its grandchildren.
The Gulfstream II has been elongated several times, in order to make aircraft as the Gulfstream III, IV, V and G600/G650!
Originally, it was meant to be an upgrade of the Gulfstream I, a military turboprop VIP transport aircraft. However, after a lot of tinkering and market research, Gulfstream realized that it would be more profitable to offer it on the open market.
The Gulfstream II was first flown in October 1966, and entered service in 1977. It was designed fully to serve businessmen and corporations as one of the first business jets made available to the public.
Since then several militaries have used them as VIP transport for military and political higher-ups. These range from the Gabon and Moroccan Air Forces to the US Air Force (and several others!)
What truly is the first business jet?
That’s all great. But it doesn’t really answer the question. The manufacturers of these aircraft (and several other smaller manufacturers) claim to have made the first ‘true’ business jet.
Technically speaking, you could make a case for all of these aircraft being the first business jet.
The McDonnell 119 was the first aircraft marketed for such a purpose. It’s only that it failed that is why it’s often disregarded. The Falcon 20 and Gulfstream II were the first to be mass-produced.
Every aircraft above has a reason to be considered on the list.
However, as a general rule, it comes down to Bill Lear’s LearJet 23 or the McDonnell 119. The McDonnell 119 would’ve been teh first business jet had it not been a complete failure.
The LearJet wasn’t the first jet to be used solely for corporate buyers, however, it was the first successful business jet.
And most people tend to agree with me! Most aviation historians have spent a lifetime fighting over who’s business jet was truly the first. But after years of debate the general consensus is that the LearJet 23 was the first.
It is considered to be the ‘first’ as it followed certain criteria:
- It was exclusively for corporate use
- It was successful- it sold more than 100 copies
- It came before others that followed suit (naturally!)
- It always had the intention to be used for this and not something else!
What do you think was the first business jet (truly)! Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Rob Hogdkins via Flickr.